Control system for theater lighting circuits



2 Sheets-Sheet l A. LE R, UPTON Filed Jan. 16 1935 CONTROL SYSTEM FOR THEATER LIGHTING CIRCUITS June 25, 1935.

June 25,1935. A. LE R, UPTON 2,006,223

CONTROL SYSTEM FOR THEATER LIGHTING CIRCUITS Filed Jan. 16, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w as 5 Patented June 25,1935 i X 2,006,223.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE' 1 CONTROL SYSTEM FOR THEATER LIGHT- ING CIRCUITS Albert Le Roy Union. St. Louis, Mo. Application Janna-r16, 1933, Serial No. 651,868 14 Claims. (Cl. 175 312) This invention relates to a system for conalso that each of such lighting units may be simtrolling electric circuits for theater lighting ilar to the one illustrated. whereby the brilliancy of the fighting may be Lamps l are supplied with alternating current controlled at will. through wires 2 and 3. The wire 2 is connected One of the objects of this invention is to prothrough a bar 4 of a relay 5 with a wire 6 which 5 vide a system of controls which will give procomprises one side of the alternating current portional dimming in a plurality of circuits; that main. A reactance unit 1 includes alternating is to say, the lamps of one unit may be dimmed current windings 8 and 9. These windings are proportionately and simultaneously with the connected in series in a circuit between the wire 10 lamps of another unit without having equal bril- I and the other side of the alternating current 10 liancy in the different units. supply. Thus, the wire 3 is connected to one side Another object of this invention is to provide of the winding 8, the other side being connected a system which will lend itself conveniently to 'to a wire II, which is connected also to one side remote controL- With the pre-set and selection of the winding 9. The other side of the winding provided by this system, the controls are of such 9 is connected by a wire II and through a bar I2 15 simplicity that means may be readily designed, of the relay 5 to a wire i3, which, with the wire 6, by those skilled in the art, whereby manually opconstitutes the alternating current mains.

erable means may be assembled at a location re- The path then of the alternating current which mote from the system proper. supplies the lamps of the lighting unit is as 1'01- 2 Another object of this invention is to provide lows:

for an individual lighting unithaving dual con- From the wire 6, one of the alternating curtrols whereby the brilliancy of such lighting unit rent mains, through the conductor bar 4 of the may be controlled proportionately and simultarelay 5, the wire 2, the lamps l, the wire 3, the neously with either of two selected groups of winding 0 of the reactance unit, the wire ii, the

other lighting units. other winding 9 of the reactance, the wire II, the 25 Another object of this invention is to provide bar I! oi. the relay 5, and to the other main I3. pre-set and selector controls. By these means The reactance unit 1 includes a direct current each individual lighting unit may be pre-set to be winding ll, the arrangement being such that by controllable by any one of a number of master varying the voltage passing through the windcontrols simultaneously with other selected units ing II the alternating current may be varied 30 and whereby the brilliancy of the lighting units from zero to maximum line voltage. The conmay be controlled by any one of a number of struction and arrangement of the reactance unit, control circuits. as here illustrated and described, is well known Another object of this invention is to provide and in common use. This invention includes,

means whereby a group of selected lighting units however, an improvement in such reactance unit 35 may be faded in or faded out simultaneously with which may or may not be in the unit itself. Means the fading out or fading in of another group of are provided, as will hereafter be described, lighting units. whereby the winding i4 may be influenced by Other and specific objects will be apparent either of two circuits. In the embodiment illusfrom the following detail description taken in trated in Fig. 3 this dual control is effected, as 40 connection with the accompanying drawings,'in will hereafter be described, by using two direct which' current windings in place of the single winding Fig. 1 is a diagrammatical illustration of one H, as illustrated in Fig. 1.' It will be seen, there lighting unit with a plurality of controls therefor. fore, that in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 the Fig. 2 is a diagram of circuit control means reactance unit I is of standard and well known for use in connection with the embodiment illusconstruction, the means for dual control being trated in Fig. 1. provided by circuit controls outside and apart Fig. 3 is an illustration of another embodifrom the reactance unit proper. I ment of this invention showing an optional man- One side of the winding II is connected to a ner of securing a dual control for each lighting wire I! which is a supply main common wire 50 unit. with several sources of direct current. The other In the illustration, Fig. 1, only one lighting unit. side of the winding I4 is connected to a wire I0, is illustrated, it being understood that a theater which may be connected,.as will hereafter be exlighting system will, of course, include a large plained in detail, to one of several controlled cirnumber of these units and it being understood cuits. A variable resistance l1, illustrated in the drawings as a potentiometer, is connected to the wire Hi; the other side of the potentiometer opposite the wire l6 being connected to a wire l8. It will be seen, therefore, that the voltage passing through the wire l4 may be controlled by the potentiometer I! from zero to the maximum voltage supplied through the wire l8. Thus, the brilliancy of the lamps I may be controlled from zero to the maximum brilliancy permitted by the voltage of the circuit fed through the wire l8, by manipulation of the potentiometer I1.

The potentiometer also serves as a bridge of high ohmic resistance connecting the two branches of the circuit |5--|8. Thus, if a switch in the line is opened while the current is on excessive sparking will not occur due to the leak through this bridge.

A switch I9 is adapted to connect the wire l8 selectively to wires 20, 2| and 22. The connections from the wire 20 will be later described in detail, it being understood at this time that the wire 20 is adapted to be connected selectively by a pre-set system and master controls of any one of a number of control circuits.

The wire 2| is for independent control. .The wire 22 may be described a color master, which may in practice be common with all the lighting units of the same color. The wires 2| and 22 have switches 23 and. 24 by which they-may be selectively connected to any one of a number of brilliancy control circuits, such as 31, 38 and 39 (see Fig. 2).

The wire 20 is adapted to be connected automatically either to wire 21 or to wire 28, according to the one carrying the higher potential. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings this function is performed by a. polarized relay 25. Obviously, it may be accomplished by other means, such as a differential relay, the construction and illustration of which is well understood in the art.

I have thus described an important part of this invention whereby the brilliancy of the lighting unit may be controlled by two separate circuits. One of the uses of this control may be illustrated as follows: The circuit 21 may be set at such a maximum voltage that the lighting units I may not be brought to more than fifty per cent. brilliancy when under the control of that circuit. I may, nevertheless, without making a change in settings of that circuit, bring the lighting unit up to full brilliancy by means of circuit 28.

The circuit wires 21 and 28may be each connected through relays 3|, 32, 33 and 34, and through manually operable selector switches 35 and 36 selectively with a plurality of control circuit wires 31, 38 and 39.

It will be understood that while only four relays (3|, 32, 33 and 34) are shown, there will ordinarily be more than-this number of relays, since there will be one relay for each master control, which will later be described. It will be also understood that there will be a number of selector switches (35, 36) corresponding to the number of relays and to the number of master controls; two only being shown, for convenience.

Having described briefly one of the purposes of the relays, it being to connect wires 21 and 28 with control circuits, I will now describe their arrangement, the circuits for actuating them and the master controls, The master controls include master switches 4| and 42, two only being shown in the drawings but as many as desired may be provided. These master switches are adapted W operate the relays of as many lighting units as need be simultaneously controlled. The switches 4| and 42 are adapted to be connected to a wire 43, which with a wire 44 comprises a source of current supply. The circuit 43-44, of course, will supply a substantially constant voltage. Each master switch includes a conductor bar 45 and a contact 46 which is adapted to make contact, when the switch is moved, with the wire 43. Each switch also includes contacts 41 adapted to make contact respectively with wires 48, each leading to a particular lighting unit. Each of the switches 4| and 42 also include a contact 48, adapted to make contact with a wire 50, which is common to all the lighting units. At A I have illustrated connections for the lighting unit il lustrated in detail, and at B I have illustrated wires 50 with its appropriate wire 53. The wire 52 is adapted to be connected by a manually operable switch 54 to a wire 55 supplying the winding for the alternating current relay 5. The relay 5 is connected by a return wire 56 to the supply circuit wire 44. The switch 54 is m chanically connected by a shaft 51 to the swi ch H and thus operates in unison with it. The switch 54 is.

adapted to connect the wire 55 to the wire 52, as previously explained, to a wire 58 which may be termed a color master, or to an independent main wire 59. The wires 58 and 58, termed the colormaster and independent, respectively, are not to be confused with the wires 2| and 22, which were referred to by the same name since the wires 58 and 59 are connected with auxiliary operating circuits, whereas the wires 2| and 22 are connected with brilliancy control circuits.

It will now be understood that a circuit is provided for operating the relay 5 which connects the alternating current supply for the lamps in the lighting unit; that circuit may now be described. When it is desired to control the lighting unit through the master switch, current will flow from the wire 43 through the contact 4| of the master switch, the bar 45, the contact 41, wire 48,

the appropriate bar of a switch 5|, the wire 52, switch 54, the wire 55, the winding of the relay 5, and the wire 56 to the wire 44. When, however, it is desired to operate the lighting unit either through a color main or the independent main, current will flow from the wire 43 through either the wires 58 or 59, the switch 54, thence through mon wire 60, which connects with the supply circuit wire 44. The arrangement is such that the winding of each relay is appropriate and may be connected to a master switch. Thus the relay 3| is operable only when the master switch 4| is thrown; relay 32 is operable only when master switch 42 is thrown; and the relays 33 and. 34 are operable respectively when their respective master switches, not shown in the drawings, are thrown.

The course of the circuit for operating the relays 3I, etc., may now be traced. From the wire 43throughfcontact s, bar. 45, contact 40. wire 88, switch wire 53, winding of the relay 8|,

- and wire 60 to wire 44. It has been stated, and

will now be understood, that the relays 8| etc., are adapted to connect the circuit wires 81, 88 or 39 with the wires "and 28.' A wire 8| con;- nects the fixed terminal 01 the switch" with a terminal1t2 .onv the'relay 3|, and a. wire 83 connects the fixedterminal of .the switch it with a terminal 62 on the relay .32. Similarly the fixed terminals of other switches, light switches 38, 88,

us -er.

will be connected respectively to terminals 82 of the relaysl33 and 34.. A conductor bar 84 on each of the relays'is adapted to connect the terminal 82 with a terminal 65. Each ofthe terminals 88 is connected .to one side of a resistance 88. specifl-' cally shown in'the drawings as a potentiometer, by a wire 61. The other side oikeach potentiometer 66 is connecter by a wire 88 to a terminal 88 of its appropriate relay. A conductor bar I8 on each of the relays is adapted'to connect the terminal 89 with a terminal II which in turn is connected to a wire 12. Y

In the embodiment specifically shown the wires '12 of the alternate relays are connected in common and lead to a wire 21 or 28. Thus, the wires 12 connected to relays 8| and 83 .are connected to the wire 21 and the wires I2 appropriate to relays 33 and 38 are connectedto wire 28. I will now trace the course of the circuit supplying control current to the lighting unit and in order to do this I may also 'describe the operation.

of the device. The system may first beset as follows: The potentiometer i! will beset, in the position shown in the drawings, in such a manner as toofier no resistance. The switches 35 and 38 will be set as indicated, the switch connect ing with the circuit wire 31 and. the switch 36 connecting with the circuit 'wire 38. Switches 5i appropriate to master switches 4i and 42 will be thrown. The potentiometer "88 proximate to the switch 35 will be set as shown to afi'ord the maximum of substantially fifty 'per cent. brilliancy and the potentiometer 88- proximate to the switch 36 will be set to afi'ord approximately seventy-five. per ,cent. brilliancy. When the proper cue is received by the operator the master switchli is operated. Thereupon, as previously indicated and by the circuits as previously traced, the relay 3! will operate. Thereupon the circuit is established as follows: From the wire 37 through the switch 35, wire 8!, bar 88 o! the actor l, wire l5, which with wire 31 constitutes the supply circuit. .The alternating current circuit has been closed by operation of the relay 5 in a manner which has heretofore been described. The brilliancy then of the lighting may be controlled by changing the voltage in thecircuit That is, it may be controlled up to fifty per cent. brilliancy as fixed by the potentiometer 88.

If, however, inthe succeeding scene, it is desired to increase the brillia'ncy or the lighting unit beyond that fixed at first,'switch 42 may be thrown and control current will 'pass from the wire 88 through the switch 88, inc. similar path 4 .to' that already described, to the wire 28, then when the potential increases beyond that. supplied by the circuit I5-31 the relay 38 will operate to cutout the wire 21 and cut in the wire 28.

Fig. 2 illustrates means for supplying and regulating potential in circuits 31, 38 and 88,

which have a common main l5. These circuits are fed respectively by generators 88, 8| and 82. The voltage delivered by these generators is varied by varying the voltage in the respective field windings 83, 84 and 85. These field windings are connected on one side to a common main 85 and on the other side to wires 81, 88 and 89, respectively. These wires are connected, respectively, to one side of potentiometers 99, 9| and 92, the other side of which are connected to switches 98, 84 and 95, respectively. These switches are each adapted to connect with wires 98, 91 and 98.

Thezwire 96 is supplied with current by a generator 99 and the wire 88 by a generator Hill. The wire 91, with wire 86, constitutes mains having any convenient source of direct current supply. The circuit 88-91, of course, will carry a substantially constant voltage.

The generators 99 and I08 have field windings l8! and I82, respectively, each adapted to be supplied with current from the circuit 86-91.

The voltage in the winding l8! may be regulated by -a potentiometer Hi3 and the voltage in the winding I02 may be regulated by a potentiometer I88.

It will'= thus be seen that the voltage supplied in the circuits 3?, 38 and 39 may be regulated by varying the voltage in the field of the respective generators 8i and 82, this being accomplished by manipulation of the potentiometers 98, 8E and 82. It will also be obvious that one or more of the windings 83, 84 or 85 may be connected witheither generator 99 or I08, each of which has means for varying the voltage of its output It will be obvious to those skilled in theart that the means provided for controllingvoltage in the various circuits is extremely flexible and -convenient to the many and varied situations ,which arise in the control of theater lighting circuits.

Fig. 3 illustrates another embodiment by which by wire it) and connected in circuit between the wires 8 and ii, the wires 2 and H constituting the leads from a. source of alternating current supply. The construction already described is the same as that which is included in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, however, the reactance unit '3 is provided with two direct current windings H8 and iii. One side of each of these windings is connected to the wire it which is a common main for the control circuits-and the other side of the windings H8 and iii are connected, respectively, to the wires 21 and 28, which may be supplied withcurrent as in the embodiment illustrated in It is contemplated that in actual practice means will be provided whereby, when one of the relays 3t, 82, 88 and 34 is operated, all other relays in a series will be locked out. In the arrangement shown in the drawings, when one odd 1 addition to that method, the circuit for operating a particular relay may be connected through conductor bars on all other relays in the same group in such a manner that such other relays will complete the circuit, when all of them are at rest, but will break the circuit when any one of the group is operated. In order. to simplify the drawings this means is not illustrated. Some such means, however, should be provided in order to prevent connecting the reactor winding with more than one control circuit by accident. Such an accident would cause one control circuit to affect the other control circuit, thus preventing the independent control of such two circuits.

In the embodiment specifically illustrated and described the master switches H and 42 are adapted to close circuits operating both the relay 5, for the alternating current supply, and the relays 3|, 32, 33 and 34, for the control circuits. Each of these master switches may be replaced with two master switches, one controlling the circuit for the alternating current supply relay and the otherswitch for controlling the control circuit relays. That is to say, one switch will be adapted for connecting the wires 48 and the other switch will be adapted for connecting the wire 50. An advantage .may be obtained by that method, in that the masterswitch connecting the wire 50 may be operated in advance of the alternating current supply relay 5, thus causing a magnetic flux to build up in the reactor and rendering the system adaptable for immediate control when the alternating current circuit is closed. In the arrangement shown in the drawings and specifically described, even though the system is set for full brilliancy there will be a considerable interval of time elapsing after the master switch is thrown before the lamps come to their full brilliancy. If, however, the master switch is divided, as suggested, and the controlv circuit is closed slightly in advance, the lamps will come to their full brilliancy immediately upon closing the alternating current supply relay.

It will be obvious that parts of the invention may be used without the whole, that additional controls may be provided, and that various changes may be made in the details of construction, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit or this invention.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described, a reactor, a plurality. of direct current circuits, means for influencing said reactor by one only i of said circuits at a time automatically accordin to the circuit having the higher potential, and

means for selectively varying the potential in said circuits.

2. In apparatus oi. the character described, a reactor having a core adapted to be influenced by a unidirectional current, a plurality of direct current circuits, means for influencing said core by one only of said circuits at a time automatically according to the relative voltages of the circuits, and means for selectively varying the potential in said circuits.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a reactor, a direct current winding on said reactor, a plurality of circuits, means eflective automatically for placing said winding selectively in the one of said circuits carrying the higher potential,

and means for selectively varying the potential in reactor, a direct current winding on said reactor, a plurality of circuits, a switch for connecting the winding to one of said circuits selectively, a relay connected and adapted to operate said switch to connect the winding in the circuit having the higher potential, and means for selectively varying the potential in said circuits.

5. In apparatus of the character described having a plurality of lighting units, a control circuit for each of said units, a resistance variable at will in each of said circuits, a plurality of supply circuits, means for connecting each of said control circuits selectively to any one of a plurality of said supply circuits, generators adapted to supply respectively said supply circuits and each having an exciting winding, a circuit for each of said windings, a resistance variable at will in each of said last named circuits, a plurality of generators, means for selectively connecting each of said last named circuits to any one of a plurality of said last named generators, and means for varying at will the voltage of each of said last named generators.

6. In apparatus of the character described having a plurality of lighting'units, a plurality of circuits pertinent to each unit only arranged and adapted to supply the voltage efiective to control the brilliancy of such unit, a relay in each of said circuits, a plurality of supply circuits, and a selector switch in each of said first named circuits adapted to connect said circuit with any one of a plurality-of said supply circuits.

7. In apparatus of the character described having a'plurality of lighting units, a plurality of circuits pertinent to each unit only arranged and adapted to supply the voltage effective to control the brilliancy of such unit, a relay in each of said circuits, a plurality of supply circuits, a selector switch in each of said first named circuits adapted to connect said circuit with any one of said supply circuits, circuits respectively for operating said relays, and unitary means for simultaneously closing a selected one of said last named circuits in each of a plurality of said lighting units.

8. In apparatus of the character described having a lighting unit, a supply circuit for said lighting unit, a relay in said supply circuit, a switch adapted to connect said relay'selectively with any one of a plurality of operating circuits, a circuit adapted to control the brilliancy or said lighting unit, a switch adapted to selectively connect said control circuit with any one or a plurality of supply circuits, and mechanical means connecting said two switches whereby they may be operated simultaneously.

9. In apparatus of the character described having a plurality of lighting units, a supply circuitior each of said units, a relay in each of said supply circuits, a plurality of operating circuits pertinent to each .unit and each adapted to operatethe relay, means for selectively connect: ing the relay to any one of said operating circuits, a master switch adapted to close a plurality of selected operating circuits each pertinent to a separate lighting unit, a plurality of control circuits for controlling the' brilliancy of a lighting unit, a relay in each circuit, a plurality of circuits each for operating a plurality of such last named relays, one in each of a plurality of units, pre-set switches in each of said last named circuits pertinent to the relays respectively, and a master switch for closing each of sa'idlast named circuits.

10. In apparatus of the class described having a lighting unit, a reactor for controlling the brilliancy of said unit, a direct current circuit including a winding on the reactor, a control circuit having pre-set switches adapted to connect it with a plurality of variable supply circuits common with other lighting circuits, and a master switch adapted to close said, supply circuits, the improved combination including a color main circuit having means for varying its voltage at will, an independent main circuit carrying a substantially constant voltage, and a switch pertinent only to said unit for selectively connecting said winding circuit with any one of said supply circuit, said color main circuit, or said independent main circuit. A

11. In apparatus of the class described having a lighting unit, a reactor for controlling the brilliancy of said unit, a direct current circuit including a winding on the reactor, a control circuit having Dre-set switches adapted to connect it with a plurality of variable supply circuits common with other lighting circuits, and a master switch adapted to close said supply circuits, the improved combination including an independent main circuit carrying a substantially constant switch adapted to close said supply circuits, the

-improved combination including an independhaving a plurality of lighting units, a plurality of controlled circuits adapted to control the brilliancy or said units, generators adapted to supply respectively said circuits and each having an exciting winding, exciting circuits for said winding respectively, a variable resistance in each of said exciting circuits, a plurality of generators, means for varying at will the voltages of said last named generators, a supply circuit having a substantially constant voltage, and means for selectively connecting each of said exciting currents with any of said generators or said constant voltage supply circuit.

14. In apparatus of the class described, the combination including a lighting unit, a. reactor, a direct current winding on the reactor, a permanent circuit including the winding, a switch for selectively connecting said winding circuit with any one of a plurality of supply circuits, and

a potentiometer in said winding circuit providing means for varying at will the voltage therein, providing a high ohmic resistance between the branches of the circuit and positioned to close said winding circuit at all times.

ALBERT LE ROY 'UPTON. 

